MINIATURE GARDEN CITY

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 61

MINIATURE GARDEN CITY

Whilst the rest of England is talking housing, Sir Phillip Sassoon, M.P. for Folkestone, has got to work on a scheme to provide model houses for the fishermen and other working people of his constituency. Knowing that the property in the vicinity of Radnor street, Folkestone, was condemned, Sir Phillip has evoked a public utility society, under the Government housing scheme, and has offered to make himself responsible for that part of the finances not provided by the Government. For this purpose he has purchased freehold land from the Roman Catholic convent between the South-Eastern railway line and the East Cliff, together with land belonging to Lord Radnor. In an interview, Sir Phillip said: "My scheme is in no way to interfere with any scheme the corporation may propound} What I want to do in effect is to create a garden city in miniature. I propose to adopt designs mad J by local artists in open competition, of which Mr Herbert Baker, the. eminent architect, is to be the judge. " I should like it clearly to be understood that I am not fostering pauperism, and that reasonable rents will bo charged for the houses. These details will be fixed by the utility society, in which will be associated gentlemen nominated by myself and nominees of the tenants. At the same time I do not expe.ot any return, for whatever sum I may be called upon to furnish, either of interest or capital. "The cost of building is such that I do not think we can hope to do more than pay the very reasonable interest which the Government ask on their capital Joans Should we find, however, that there is a balance, I to use it in extending the scheme or m improving Its amenities."-

Mr A. Christie, the Ashburton County Council's inspector, states that OTer 500 motor oara, Borne of which came from aa far south as Bluff, passed over the Ashburton traffio bridge on Sunday on their way to Christohurch, in connection "with' tha drana National meeting.